The 2026 Formula 1 season is already sparking debate before a single lap has been run, with the upcoming ruleset under early scrutiny.
Red Bull Racing have joined the roster of power unit suppliers, collaborating with Ford on their new engine programme.
But Ferrari have raised concerns to the FIA over reports that Red Bull and Mercedes may be running engines with different compression rates compared to the rest of the field.
Red Bull’s hiring spree from Mercedes in recent years helped them launch their power unit division, which could explain why both teams are now facing questions about their engine designs.
The importance of engines under the new regulations means any perceived advantage could have a significant impact on performance across the grid.
Max Verstappen recently shared his first impressions after hearing Red Bull’s 2026 engine in action for the first time. “It sounded quite rough but that’s still a work in progress,” Verstappen told Sky Sports F1. “The only thing you can look at so far is what’s coming out of it but there will be a lot of changes before we get into pre-season testing.”
Max Verstappen describes Red Bull’s 2026 F1 engine as ‘crisp’
During an appearance on the Talking Bull Podcast, Verstappen was asked if he’d heard Red Bull’s new engine and replied: “It makes a noise!”
“I mean, it sounded good. It sounded like an engine.
“Of course, you hear it on a dyno, but it sounded crisp.
“I’m not sure they actually develop on the noise, but I mean it made a good noise.
“I mean, it’s not a V10, but I hope so [that it will sound good on track].”
Toto Wolff has mentioned that Verstappen could have an edge next season when it comes to managing the electrical side of the new hybrid engines.
Verstappen’s background in simulators has always been a strong point in his career. As he prepares to balance Formula 1 with his growing interest in GT3 racing next year, he’s placing even more emphasis on simulator work.
Max Verstappen says his racing thoughts drift to GT3, not F1
Verstappen made his endurance debut at the Nordschleife in 2025, winning his first race after securing his licence in the summer.
The 28-year-old is expected to keep building on that GT3 experience into 2026. And when asked who he’d like to partner with for Le Mans if the chance ever came up, Verstappen didn’t hesitate: “It would probably be [Fernando] Alonso.”
It’s always about what I want to change or optimise,” he said. “I still need to learn a lot there.
In Formula 1, I have so many people behind me anyway that I trust and who do their job very well.
“But of course, in the GT world, it’s a much smaller team. So, there are still a lot of things that I also still need to understand better and learn. So, I’ll do that in my sleep.
I can wake up in the middle of the night with some ideas and then text my teammate: ‘Wake up!’”
That attention to detail has been a big part of what makes Verstappen so valuable for Red Bull beyond just his raw pace.
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